Feb. 23, 2002
Box Score
MILLINGTON, TN. - On Saturday, Feb. 23, at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn., the Villanova baseball team got masterful pitching performance from junior right-hander John Yeager, who threw a complete three-hitter to lead the Wildcats to a 5-1 victory over Air Force. The win was Villanova's first of the 2002 season, as the `Cats improve to 1-4. The Falcons fall to 7-6 on the season with the loss.
The scoreboard read zeros until the top of the fourth inning, when the Wildcat offense got on track. Left fielder Adrian Schau walked to lead off the inning, and advanced to third on a single by right fielder Alan Day. With one out in the inning, shortstop Brian Trotta hit a sac fly to right to score Schau and give the `Cats a 1-0 lead. One batter later, Villanova added to its advantage on a RBI double off the bat of catcher Marshall Canosa. Canosa's double into the right field corner gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead and knocked out Air Force starter Erik Fisher.
On the mound for Villanova, Yeager was baffling Falcon hitters and carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Derck Kasel snuck a two-out double down the left field line to end the no-hit bid. Yeager struck out Air Force third baseman Bowie Frost to end the inning and preserve the Wildcats' 2-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, Villanova put another run upon the board as Canosa blasted a solo home run off the scoreboard in left field to give the `Cats a 3-0 advantage.
Taking a shutout into the bottom of the seventh inning, Yeager got the first two outs of the inning before left fielder Josh Phifer stepped to the plate. Phifer hit Yeager's first pitch over the left field fence to cut the Villanova lead to 3-1.
Taking a 3-1 lead into the top of the ninth inning, the Wildcats offense looked to put the game away. Center fielder Chris Graziano lined a RBI single through the right side to make it a 4-1 game, and Graziano later came around to score on a balk to give Villanova a 5-1 lead.
Yeager came out for the bottom of the ninth hoping to finish what he started. With one out and one runner on, he got Adam Howes to foul out to first and Phifer to fly out to center to end the game and give the Wildcats a 5-1 win.
Yeager (1-1) got his first win of the year, allowing just one run on three hits in nine innings, striking out five and walking only one. Fisher (1-2) took the loss for Air Force, giving up two runs on three hits in three and two thirds innings, walking five and striking out five.
Graziano and Canosa each had two hits on the day for Villanova. Graziano went two-for-four with a run scored, RBI and two stolen bases. Canosa went a perfect two-for-two with a double, home run and two RBI.
The Wildcats continue their Saturday festivities at 1:15 p.m., taking on the Memphis University Tigers.
